Lowering springs on stock shocks

bblack · Oct 29, 2006

I want to stiffen up my suspension on my stock 07 ZX3 and was wondering if lowering springs and stock shocks would help at all. I don't know of any adjustable shocks for the newer foci. I would eventually get shocks and struts once they come out. I know a rear sway bar would help but lowering would help looks as well. If anyone knows of any struts and shocks for the newer foci that would help me thanks. I know I COULD get the SVT brakes and stuff but I dont want to do that.

Thanks for the help.
Drew

techer05 · Oct 29, 2006

i went a few months with my lowering springs on stockers with no problems...some people have done it for a long time.

bblack · Oct 29, 2006

Did it stiffen the suspension up? Was it "bouncy" if you will?

Z63R · Oct 29, 2006

If it's s soft-rate (non-race) lowering spring -and- FRESH (low miles) stock dampers (shocks and struts) then yes, it's okay BUT NOT FOR VERY LONG. Eventually, one will need a better damper to control the energy that the weight of the car feeds into the spring.

For example, I ran a 10,000 miles set of SVT Focus dampers with H&R's Sport springs for another 15,000 miles and as that 25,000 mile mark approached I could see where the damping was getting to be a little "thin"...

SVT Focus dampers are far better in "valving" than ZX3 units. H&R Special Springs suggests that stock dampers can be used with their Sport and O.E. Sport springs. I say that that's true, but not for any serious performance driving, and definately not for longer than 25,000 - 30,000 miles.

I'm now running the KYB AGX adjustable dampers with my H&R Sport springs. The car is far more "focused" and much better damped. By the time I accumilate a total of roughly 25,000 miles on these AGXs, however, I'm buying Konis or GAZ. Call it research.

:banana:

It's always been an industry standard, more or less, to replace OE-style shocks and struts at or near 40,000 miles; fine for the no-performance driver going to work in fair weather, but for anything else, I feel that that mileage interval is too far. If one wants the best-handling Focus one can have given the hardware one has selected and installed, stay on top of the dampers - go for 25,000 miles replacement intervals (unless one already has some uber-quality adjustables that cost a fortune when new...)

biscuitninja · Oct 31, 2006

Yep it will work with a lowering spring that it close to the spring rate of the stock units, but it won't last for long. The damper is suppose to be used over a certain distance/travel. Once you change that (with lowering springs), its out of the zone it was designed for.
It will ultimately fail after a short while (well before 30-40k miles).

I've done this with several of my mustangs and now I just go for the whole thing at once (I know its no fun, but doing things right save alot of headache in the long run).
-bix

blackconvt · Nov 1, 2006

I put dropzone 1 3/4 lowering springs on my '03 years ago. Kept the stock shocks and struts. I now have 53K on the car and no problems what-so-ever. In fact, I wacked a big pot hole last week and brought the car in for the "under car" rattle that resulted. The dealer knows about my springs as I always pay the extra 5 bucks to get my oil changes at the dealer to keep them friendly in the event of a warranty claim. I insisted they completely check out all the suspension and fix whatever was needed. I told them to check out my shocks and struts and let me know what they thought. They told me, then showed me the shocks and struts were perfect and leak free and that they would "have replaced them for me under my extended warranty plan" had they been bad or leaking. All that was rattling was a sway bar end link...which they fixed under warranty. So in my experience, the springs worked out fine for me.

Steveamtb · Nov 1, 2006

I have a 2005 ST with H&R sport springs. At first i had the stock dampers. it just never did feel right. Went to the KYB and what a difference. Now the car feels right. i also did strut tower braces F&R and larger sway bars F&R, also a very big thing to look into is changing the rear motor mount, made a big difference.

MichaelXi · Nov 2, 2006

What springs are you considering?
That makes a Big Difference in the answer to your question.

MichaelXi · Nov 2, 2006

Steveamtb said:
i also did strut tower braces F&R and larger sway bars F&R,

Those swaybars will certainly help, just don't think that those braces did anything for your handling.
On some cars they can, but on the Focus, the Front has negligible impact, and on the Rear we don't even have struts to brace. Shocks work differently than struts, and the forces are directed differently.
A Triangulated, Welded brace can have some Minor effect, but at that point you might as well cage it.

bblack · Nov 2, 2006

MichaelXi said:
What springs are you considering?
That makes a Big Difference in the answer to your question.

Well... I was thinking that progressive spring rates would help with the wear on the stock shocks and struts?
I think the Steeda lowering springs are progressive (please correct me if im wrong) I was thinking of them.

MichaelXi · Nov 2, 2006

I'm not sure about Steeda other than the fact that they are USUALLY, (Not Always) simply other companies' products that have been rebadged.
Do they have an offering for '06-'07 models?
If they DO, I'll bet they're rebadged Eibach, and you may be able to find them cheaper. Also, I do Believe, though I'm not positive, that Eibach sells a Full kit for the later models.

bblack · Nov 2, 2006

Yeah Steeda has springs but not shocks and struts available for the 06-07 models.
Thanks for the help guys!
Drew

Lowering springs on stock shocks

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